This is an unofficial blog of news and info from Diamond Mountain University and Retreat Center which was founded by Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of the Dalai Lamas.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Lama Dome Dailies, Dec 14

From the beginningless mindstream we now call John E.O.:

The steadfast continue...

Despite intense winds in excess of 40 miles per hour last night andcontinuing into the afternoon (the temple yurt fell down and its latticework needs to be replaced, as it was shredded into pointy bits andshards), we climbed up the hill. We went up the back way, and will do sountil the inspection.

Sometimes you show up already tired and then you hear that someone else isnot feeling up to it that day and suddenly you are suffused with the powerand the will to rise up and be strong and steady.

The stone work is looking fine as it nears it finish along the wholebottom of the dome. Cobbing is slowly turning into the machine that thebagging process was. Some need to re-identify ourselves with new labels,as both baggers and dirt miners become cogs in the cob machine.The trench slowly gets deeper. This particular trench is for water thatsneakily gets through all of our other trench drains. I'm reminded ofGeshe-hla's story of Holy Khen Rinpoche's roof leakage being caused faraway from where the leak appeared. As usual, we have to dig deeper to getto the true source of the issue.

Some buttresses were pulled the other day and there was some settling ofthe dome. The irony of the process was that it is very unsettling. Webelieve it is minor, but fortifications will happen, and David will get toplay with the welder.

Allison has left us for Tucson and we will miss her greatly. She has beencooking us wonderful meals and makes our day complete as we gather in thekitchen yurt and dine together.

We just left the dome tarped and secure. Our tarp science has advancedand we'll see how stout our last attempt was in the morning.

1 Comments:

I miss you guys so much and wish I was there to help clean up after the winds and to feed you (what a mom I am). But Calla is so happy I'm here to celebrate her birthday and Christmas and I know you'll be happy about that. Love to you all - my upcoming retreat is for you. Allison